Money Management Boot Camp ..... anyone interested?

[Twiglett]

OK the house of twig has been overspending drastically in recent months, so I'm about to start sorting it out again (took my eye off the ball you see)

I know we do style and healthy living makeovers on here

Anybody want to join my Money Boot Camp? Get control of your money and stay in control?

NB this may be well over my head though but I'm pretty good at this normally

sign-up if you wanna try .. we could start next month?

ooh yes

I need help in saving dd's nursery fees not blowing them all now she has started school

Am also horrifically profligate in numerous ways

I will definitely sign up for this one!

OK CD .. as a temporary stop-gap start immediately diverting the money you would have spent on nursery fees into a high-interest savings account. This will stop you just frittering it .. honestly out of sight is out of mind

.. then you need to think about when you will want the money .. is it a long-term investment (5-10 years) or will you use it for holidays / treats throughout the year or do you really really need it for a standard of living you aspire to

any more money boot campers?

CD I meant you should set up a direct debit into savings account so you don't even think about the money

Count me in. I'm hopeless with money, as is DH, and despite us both earning good money, we still live beyond our means.

So are you going to have rules?

Notice the lack of direct commitment from me there?

Yes, in dire need. But you wont shout at me when you here how much debt I'm in will you?

I'm desparate to turn over a new leaf.

Have cut up all credit cards as start.

Excellent start, NG!

Oh please yes count me in. I am so embarrassed at the state of mine, i thought by 33 I would have sorted....

OK ONLY TWO THINGS TO DO OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS

1. Complete this budget planner

you will have to guess on somethings no doubt, but be as realistic as you can be. Use your bank statements to check on bills etc

2. Get a notebook (or a spreadsheet) and write down EVERYTHING you spend each day, and I mean everything (newspaper, drink, coffee)

put date, where, what and how much

do it religiously

its useful honestly

There will be no shouting, just gentle cajoling .. its about you getting control not about what's happened in the past but about what is going to happen

Oh I've done that before

It made me about how much we spend

I do all of this already pretty much and still cant manage to keep within budget. Am not in serious debt or anythign but am tryign desperately to save as we need loads of stuff for the house (a new oven for starters). things have gone completely up the creek this month so I'm in for next month.

that's why we're starting again

getting ready for October budgeting

I'm in. We realised last November that we were utterly and completely rubbish with money and turned over a new leaf. However the last month I can feel us slipping again and I don't want it to fall apart again over Christmas.

I think I need to consider joining.

We're not in debt other than the mortgage, but DH is due to retire in erm 19 months (Lordy that's frightening) and we'll have three boys still at school, at least one of whom will go to uni.

He has no concrete plans yet, and he will get a reasonable pension, but we should start thinking ahead really.

Yes please! We have decent salaries but debts too, and we don't seem to be able to keep them down. S'pose step one would be cancelling the Ocado order booked for this week and going to Morrisons?

I'll join.

I need help, I kind of started at the weekend, did the budget planner and worked out exactly what I spent last month I was very ashamed of myself.

i will join.
want to save money for hols
will do budget planner thing and look for a notebook now

I might join - if I can get my arse in gear to do the homework....

actually internet deliveries if you use them properly can save you money IMHO

.. eg with Ocado always pick the free delivery spot and don't order unless they've sent you a discount email (which they do if you don't order regularly) .. also its easier to shop to a budget and to take things you don't really want / need / will use out of the basket .. also don't use for stuff you can pick up much cheaper elsewher

anyhow this isn't supposed to be who has the least money but really how to manage your own expenditure based on your own standard of living .. we'll all be at wild variances I imagine .. and that shouldn't matter if we just want to be sensible within our own parameters

I have to second online grocery shopping.. If I go in store I can spend anythign from £70-£120 if I shop online I can get my weekly shopping for ~£40 including delivery fee! it's just a case of being organised isn't it - that where my problem starts.

OK I have a notebook and have done the budget planner. As of tomorrow I will write everything down!

oh yes count me in, need to take our finances in hand